Ballymena Firm Gears Up For Exports

Ballymena-based companySmiths Engineering Works (NI) Ltdhas established a new exportfocused gear manufacturing andrefurbishment division with supportfrom Invest Northern Ireland. As a result of its substantialinvestment, the family firm,established in 1962, has alreadysecured its first export business tothe Republic of Ireland andScotland. It aims to create sevennew jobs by 2014. The company currently offersengine remanufacturing, specialistengineering and contractmaintenance services. With itsnew division, Smiths is aiming toposition itself as the preferredgearbox service centre for theindustrial and heavy plantequipment markets associatedwith Great Britain and Ireland’s rail,marine, wind energy and oil and gas sectors. Gren Armstrong, Manager of Invest NI’s North Eastern RegionalOffice, said: “This is an importantinvestment by Smiths which hasenabled the company to adopt anew strategic direction andcapitalise on emergingopportunities particularly within therenewables sector.“ Company MD Darwin Smith said:“During our fiftieth year inbusiness, the decision to take agreater export focused approachin our business activities wasdriven by the changing needs of our customer base. “Diversifying into gear servicingwill be a complementary butdistinct service offering for whichwe have identified substantialmarket demand.”